Hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper
Orchestrator: Where to Start, Where to Learn, and Why It’s Never Too Late
Hey JDE Connection listeners — it’s Chandra and Paul, and in this episode, we’re getting hands-on with a topic that many in the JD Edwards community are still catching up on: Orchestrator.
Yes, we know Orchestrator has been around for a decade. But as Chandra just found out while building her very first orchestration (go big or go home, right?), there’s still a lot of ground to cover for those of us trying to transition from JDE 2005 to something that looks more like JDE 2025.
So, Where Do You Start?
Inspired by a recent LinkedIn post from Sonia Lovely asking for comprehensive Orchestrator resources — and backed by dozens of similar requests — we dove into the topic with some real talk: where do you actually go to learn Orchestrator? And what resources are truly helpful?
We’ve got you covered with community recommendations, official documentation, and a few of our favorite starting points.
Recommended Orchestrator Resources
Here’s a list of what came up during the conversation:
- Oracle-By-Example (OBEs)
These are step-by-step tutorials created by Oracle. Great for beginners who want guided, hands-on learning. You’ll find them on LearnJDE along with official documentation, release updates, and use cases. - Orchestrator Content Center on Quest
A central hub for user-contributed content, training videos, conference replays, and shared use cases. Especially helpful for understanding how others in the community are applying Orchestrator to real-world problems. - Orchestrator Enthusiasts Group on LinkedIn
An active LinkedIn group full of tips, use cases, and ongoing discussions from both customers and product experts. - Coffee & Connect (Tech SIG)
If you’re not already attending these informal community calls, you’re missing out. People bring real challenges and walk away with actionable advice. Chandra picked up a new automation idea mid-call and immediately messaged her dev team about trying it. - Past Episodes of The JDE Connection
Want to hear about business buy-in or adoption success stories? Check out our conversations with Shannon Alred in Episodes 27 and 28 for tips on how to make orchestration real for your organization. - Your Search Engine
Seriously. As Paul reminded us (credit to Hari Kanarti), “Let me Google that for you” is still a valid starting point. Many solution providers and partners offer blog posts, free resources, and training options.
Lessons from the Deep End
Chandra didn’t exactly ease into Orchestrator. Her first orchestration is ambitious — involving several steps, potential SOD considerations, and multiple layers of complexity. But she’s learning by doing, troubleshooting as she goes, and already sees the potential to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks.
What started with a wall of documentation and a few head scratches is now a nearly complete solution. And once it’s finished, we’re planning to walk through it step-by-step in a future episode.
Key Takeaways
- Orchestrator isn’t just for developers. Business analysts can (and should) dive in.
- You don’t need to learn everything at once. Start with a small automation — or go big, if you’re feeling bold.
- Community is your biggest asset. Ask questions, share wins, and learn from others.
- You’ll run into issues. That’s part of the process. But there’s plenty of help along the way.
Midwesternism of the Day
After a lightning bolt shook the house during a Coffee & Connect call, Chandra let out this colloquialism, because that’s what you say when you’re on camera and trying not to swear. Consider this your new go-to phrase for unexpected Orchestrator errors, surprise data issues, or terrifying thunderclaps.
For questions, feedback, or ideas for future episodes — or if you want to share your own Orchestrator success story — reach out to us at thejdeconnection@questoraclecommunity.org.
Until next time, let’s keep learning, sharing, and most importantly, laughing together.
Toodles!
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Learn More
Quest Oracle Community is where you learn. Ask questions, find answers, swap stories and connect to other JD Edwards customers and product experts in the JD Edwards Community, where you can also check out what’s happening in the Business Analyst SIG.